Fbi: FBI arrests 21-year-old man for ‘criminal’ intelligence leaks in US
WASHINGTON: The FBI Thursday arrested a member of the US Air National Guard for leaking classified documents online that embarrassed Washington along with allies around the world.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Jack Teixeira “in connection with an investigation into allegations of unauthorized deletion, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.”
“FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident,” Garland told reporters in a brief statement to the justice department.
“This investigation is ongoing,” Garland said. He did not answer questions.
The FBI said its agents made an arrest and were conducting “authorized law enforcement activity at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts.”
Video broadcast on news channels showed heavily armed officers escorting a young man in a gray T-shirt and red shorts into a waiting car. Her head was bowed and her hair was cut short.
FORMAL PROBE
US officials have been tracking the person responsible for weeks and assessing the damage caused by the release of the intelligence reports, which first appeared on social media sites in March and allegedly reveal details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and information on allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. .
The Department of Defense referred the case to the Department of Justice, which opened a formal criminal investigation last week. The Pentagon assesses the damage.
Reuters reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labeled “Secret” and “Top Secret”, but did not independently verify their authenticity. The number of leaked documents is likely to be over 100.
President Joe Bidenwho is on a three-day tour of Ireland, said he was not too concerned about the leak.
“A thorough investigation is ongoing, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Department of Justice, and they are getting closer but I don’t have an answer,” Biden told reporters.
“I’m not concerned about the leak. I’m afraid it may have happened, but there’s nothing contemporary that I’m aware of.”
A man named Jack Teixeira was promoted to Airman 1st Class in July, according to a post on the 102nd Intelligence Wing’s official Facebook page. The unit did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
A number of countries questioned the veracity of some of the leaked documents, including Britain, which said there was “a serious level of inaccuracy” in the information.
Some of the most sensitive details leaked allegedly relate to Ukraine’s military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as information about US allies.
Biden said earlier Thursday that investigators were closing in on the source of the online leaks in what would be the most serious security breach in years.
The New York Times earlier reported that Teixeira, 21, was a National Guardsman who ran Thug Shaker Central, an online group where about 20 to 30 people shared their love of guns, racist memes and video games. The Times cited interviews and documents it reviewed.
Attorney General Merrick Garland said the Federal Bureau of Investigation arrested Jack Teixeira “in connection with an investigation into allegations of unauthorized deletion, retention and transmission of classified national defense information.”
“FBI agents took Teixeira into custody earlier this afternoon without incident,” Garland told reporters in a brief statement to the justice department.
“This investigation is ongoing,” Garland said. He did not answer questions.
The FBI said its agents made an arrest and were conducting “authorized law enforcement activity at a residence in North Dighton, Massachusetts.”
Video broadcast on news channels showed heavily armed officers escorting a young man in a gray T-shirt and red shorts into a waiting car. Her head was bowed and her hair was cut short.
FORMAL PROBE
US officials have been tracking the person responsible for weeks and assessing the damage caused by the release of the intelligence reports, which first appeared on social media sites in March and allegedly reveal details of Ukrainian military vulnerabilities and information on allies including Israel, South Korea and Turkey. .
The Department of Defense referred the case to the Department of Justice, which opened a formal criminal investigation last week. The Pentagon assesses the damage.
Reuters reviewed more than 50 of the documents, labeled “Secret” and “Top Secret”, but did not independently verify their authenticity. The number of leaked documents is likely to be over 100.
President Joe Bidenwho is on a three-day tour of Ireland, said he was not too concerned about the leak.
“A thorough investigation is ongoing, as you know, with the intelligence community and the Department of Justice, and they are getting closer but I don’t have an answer,” Biden told reporters.
“I’m not concerned about the leak. I’m afraid it may have happened, but there’s nothing contemporary that I’m aware of.”
A man named Jack Teixeira was promoted to Airman 1st Class in July, according to a post on the 102nd Intelligence Wing’s official Facebook page. The unit did not immediately return an email seeking comment.
A number of countries questioned the veracity of some of the leaked documents, including Britain, which said there was “a serious level of inaccuracy” in the information.
Some of the most sensitive details leaked allegedly relate to Ukraine’s military capabilities and shortcomings, as well as information about US allies.
Biden said earlier Thursday that investigators were closing in on the source of the online leaks in what would be the most serious security breach in years.
The New York Times earlier reported that Teixeira, 21, was a National Guardsman who ran Thug Shaker Central, an online group where about 20 to 30 people shared their love of guns, racist memes and video games. The Times cited interviews and documents it reviewed.
